Teens Meet Outreach

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8(NIV)

In less than twenty-five words, Apostle Paul passed a very important guideline for living. He tells us to owe no one but yet owe everyone a responsibility to love them, not for a moment but forever. I was wondering why He would use ‘debt’ in describing our act of love.  A deeper search on the meaning of debt revealed to me that debt could also mean “an action, state of mind, or an obligation to perform for another”.  To put simply the Words of the Apostle, we have no choice but to continue loving.

As Christians, we are meant to grow more in the awareness and to be up to the full stature of Christ.

We are meant to be Christ-like and this why we are called ‘Christians’.

Christ lived a life of love from the inception of his life to the end.  John 3:16 records that His life was borne out a new kind of Love; a love that is not platonic or amorous like the one the world expresses. It is a different kind of love entirely. It is borne out of pure intentions and not selfish reasons. It is the kind of love that sacrifices.

This love is not conditional or circumstantial. It is not materialistic and neither is it a few minutes of bodily pleasure. It is the God-kind of Love. This love is a Spirit that consumes one’s entire being. It controls every part of our being.

The evaluation of a love-life is not based on how much people you show love or a few acts of kindness or you think you care for. It is measured by just one standard- the love of God and that is God himself. So don’t make the mistake of trying to feel you have loved enough or achieved a huge feat by loving or doing good to quite a number of people. You loving is a lifetime debt you can’t totally repay. I wouldn’t like to use this phrase but it best explains it “We are all prisoners of Love”.

It is a settled claim and fact that we all have been made free and are heirs to the throne but liberty that is not married with responsibility is the worst form of slavery. You have been made free to love in all proportions and no restrictions. You are free from language bias, cultural bonds, mental clutters and spiritual effigy just for one thing- to love beyond bounds. That is your responsibility as a man who has been set free.

This might sound a little impossible but we weren’t left helpless.

And hope doesn’t disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

Romans 5:5

God knew this was way beyond human strength so He gave the Holy Spirit, the LOVE SPIRIT, to help us love like Him.  If you want to love beyond bounds, listen to the Holy Spirit, follow His instructions and you will find yourself loving more and more!

I think it is very important we know how we are paying this our love debt. Jesus helped us when He was asked about the Greatest Commandment.

He answered “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and Love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27(NIV)

In John 15:17, He issued the command again “This my command; Love each other”.  

We start paying our love debt by loving God and loving God entails your devotion to Him; how much you thirst for Him and yearn to develop a relationship with Him.

It is how you obediently carry out His instructions. Loving beyond bounds starts from loving God with the whole of your being and substance.

The second part of paying our Love debt is loving our neighbour as ourselves. This simply means you show as much love you show to yourself to others. It is loving yourself and your neighbours in equal proportion.

Your Neighbour is defined in the Good Samaritan story as someone that is in your capacity to help regardless of whoever he or she is. Loving your neighbour is simply taking your neighbour as important as you take yourself! In fact, this is an expression of how much you love God. Doing all this, Apostle Paul says we are fulfilling the Law.

This Month has been symbolically associated with Love. February 14th is celebrated worldwide by all and sundry. I may just want to remind us that twenty-eight days or more is not enough to love and express our love. It is a lifetime duty. This year’s Valentine’s Day has long passed now and this month is about to end in a few days from now.

My question is hope you would remember that you are made to love all your life and not some few days alone?

Dear friends, Let us keep it in mind that we are made and obligated to love beyond bounds!

Love you and See you at the Top!

Read: The Reckless Love of God and Our Extension to Others

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What would you say love means to you? And how do you express it?

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